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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The voice between soprano and alto. Also - in sheet music - a direction for the tempo to be played at medium speed.






2. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






3. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






4. System of notes or tones based on and named after the key note.






5. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.






6. A portion of the range of the instrument or voice.






7. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






8. Tone color - quality of sound that distinguishes one verse or instrument to another. It is determined by the harmonies of sound.






9. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






10. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






11. A system of notation for stringed instruments. The notes are indicated by the finger positions.






12. A short and simple melody performed by a soloist that is part of a larger piece.






13. Closing section of a movement.






14. Ability to determine the pitch of a note as it relates to the notes that precede and follow it.






15. A short piece originally preceded by a more substantial work - also an orchestral introduction to opera - however not lengthy enough to be considered an overture.






16. The first section of a movement written in sonata form - introducing the melodies and themes.






17. A mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect.






18. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






19. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






20. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






21. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






22. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






23. A direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.






24. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






25. A reprise.






26. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






27. A repeated phrase.






28. Pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played. Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.






29. A sequence of chords that brings an end to a phrase - either in the middle or the end of a composition.






30. Two notes that differ in name only. The notes occupy the same position.For example: C sharp and D flat.






31. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






32. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






33. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






34. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






35. A complex piece of music. Usually the first movement of the piece serving as the exposition - a development - or recapitulation.






36. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






37. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






38. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






39. Two or three melodic lines played at the same time.






40. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






41. A single line of music played or sung. A musical sentence.






42. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.






43. A short and simple melody performed by a soloist that is part of a larger piece.






44. The raising and lowering a pitch of an instrument to produce the correct tone of a note.






45. A portion of the range of the instrument or voice.






46. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






47. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.






48. Music composed such that each note is used the same number of times.






49. A musical scale having five notes.For example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale.






50. A sequence of songs - perhaps on a single theme - or with texts by one poet - or having continuos narrative.







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